Now is the right time to become an American Federation of Musicians member. From ragtime to rap, from the early phonograph to today's digital recordings, the AFM has been there for its members. And now there are more benefits available to AFM members than ever before, including a multi-million dollar pension fund, excellent contract protection, instrument and travelers insurance, work referral programs and access to licensed booking agents to keep you working.

As an AFM member, you are part of a membership of more than 80,000 musicians. Experience has proven that collective activity on behalf of individuals with similar interests is the most effective way to achieve a goal. The AFM can negotiate agreements and administer contracts, procure valuable benefits and achieve legislative goals. A single musician has no such power.

The AFM has a proud history of managing change rather than being victimized by it. We find strength in adversity, and when the going gets tough, we get creative - all on your behalf.

Like the industry, the AFM is also changing and evolving, and its policies and programs will move in new directions dictated by its members. As a member, you will determine these directions through your interest and involvement. Your membership card will be your key to participation in governing your union, keeping it responsive to your needs and enabling it to serve you better. To become a member now, visit www.afm.org/join.

TMA and Building Solidarity

I want to begin by thanking Theatre Musicians
Association (TMA) President Tony D’Amico for the opportunity to write this
column. Solidarity is at the heart of the TMA. A primary goal is to strengthen
relationships with the Federation and the AFM locals. Current issues include
ever-diminishing pit orchestras and musician/actors on the musical theatre
stage. The TMA is building solidarity to fix those problems and other issues.

Part of solidarity involves supporting others in one
way or another. This year TMA Vice President Heather Boehm, TMA President
Emeritus Tom Mendel, and other TMA members attended rallies and spoke in
support of the Chicago Symphony Musicians who, at the time of this writing, are
on strike over fair wages and benefits. In March, at the invitation of my AFM
local, I attended the first session of the Motion Picture and TV negotiations
as an AFM member and a representative of TMA. In February, I attended the AFM
Western Conference on behalf of TMA.

Members working together with AFM locals and officers
is critical to solidarity. In a recent conversation with a local officer it was
mentioned that, prior to a local negotiation for a musical theatre agreement,
an email survey was sent to AFM members who had worked under the local
agreement. Some of them were members of other locals and there were few
responses. A survey is a union’s way of asking for help with negotiations so
that the union can ensure members get what they want in an agreement. It builds
union solidarity. Without it, the union has little choice but to bargain the
level of exploitation the employer will be allowed to commit upon the
musicians, instead of bargaining for what musicians want. Connecting with the
union is vital to successful employment.

The concept of solidarity and employment is
certainly not new, and much has been written and said about it. In contemporary
terms, solidarity is a major part of a support system for musical employment of
all kinds. The TMA is an integral part of the AFM and musical theatre
employment for musicians. The TMA, along with the AFM, are a fundamental
support system for musicians employed in musical theatre. Simply put,
solidarity = support system + unity = successful employment!

As the TMA continues to build solidarity, we will
look for principles to incorporate in our efforts. Here are several to
consider:

There is always one more thing you can do to
influence the matter in your favor. Few things are more frustrating than
being told “can’t do” when asking for help or information. The emphasis needs
to be on what can be done. It’s not always easy to come up with “can do” items.
Sometimes it’s necessary to get ideas from others, such as a support group.
Then, and this is the most important part, we go and do that one thing. After
that, there is always one more thing to be done.

Empty your bowl so that it may be filled. Things
accumulate over time, often to the point where they are not only useless, but
may be harmful. We must ask, “What are we doing that we should not be doing?”
and hack away the unessential. This makes way for new things that yield better
results.

Use ecological solutions. For any solution we must
ask two questions: 1) Will this cause harm to ourselves? and 2) Will this cause
harm to any other musicians? If the answer to both is “No,” the solution is
ecological and consistent with solidarity. If the answer to either question is
“Yes,” then the solution needs to be modified. If it becomes necessary to ask
someone to make a sacrifice so that we may benefit, we must first ask ourselves
what sacrifice we will make so that they may benefit—and make that sacrifice.

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Earlier this year, the AFM moved its headquarters offices in New York City from the sixth floor to the ninth floor at 1501 Broadway—also known as the Paramount Building because it served as the New York headquarters for Paramount Pictures.

At 6:59 pm Monday evening, September 9, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) management issued a “take it or leave it” offer to the BSO Musicians which will be presented to the orchestra for a vote this evening, September 10. The proposal contained wage and benefit cuts of 20%. The federal mediators proposed an extension of negotiations […]